The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-21
A FEW FACTS AND THEIR BEARING.


At the close of the day of the Cd of Novem-
Der last the Republicans of Indiana had
legally elected at least seventy seven, and
probably seventy-eight, members Of the Gen.
eral Assembly Of this there can be no ques-
ton. The Democratic State committee and
the Democratic managers at that hour con-
Republican party. This is matter Of COM
mon and notorious knowledge. But toward
morning of Wednesday it began to appear that
the Legislature would be very close;
that one vote either way might decide its
political complexion. We propose to state
some facts, the truth Of which we hold our
selves responsible, are ready to prove at
the proper time, and which we dare the Dem
ocratic gangsters to deny or disprove. There
came to the Democratic managers in this city
at least two dispatches, one from the sena-
torial district of Clark and jefferson, and the
other from the Representative district of
Vigo, Vermillion and Sullivan, saying
II
both were defeated. These dispatches
were answered in the words, 'Stop that
nonsense" and at once workers" were dis
patched to those districts. The result was
that the nonsense was stopped and on the
face of the returns DR.. Mcclure and Mr..
Beasley were returned as elected In the sem
atorial district no contest of the election could
be entered upon, because of the thirty
or thirty-one Democratic membership
contest there would have been is demonstra-
ted by the present action of the senatorial
| mob. In the representative district contest
was made, with the result Of showing
that Mr.. Downing was clearly elected by ma
| jority of forty and possibly fifty-two, of
the legal voters. There is no doubt of this; the
facts and the law are clear. Every day Mr.
| Beasley sits in the House is an outrage upon
legal representation, as is every day that Mr..
Downing and the majority of his district are
deprived of their constitutional right. We do
not think there is Republican in the
General Assembly acquainted with the evil
dence that will dispute this proposition.
! Now, then, what was the situation? The Re-
publicans confessedly had seventY-fou mem
| bers of the Legislature about whose elections
and qualifications there could be no question.
| Mr.. Meagher's ineligibity and Mr.. Dickerson's
right to the seat were conceded by every
seventy five members. With Mr.. Beasley un.
seated and Mr. Downing in his rightful place.
the Republicans would have had seventy six
members, a legal, constitutional, valid ma
jority of the General Assembly. The duty Of
the House was to 60 ahead with its work,
irrespective of what the revolutionary ma
jority in the Senate might do. The action il
that chamber was clearly and con
fessedly retaliatory, and based on neither
law nor justice The unseating of Mr.
Mcdonald or of any other member
upon the contests made, could not pass tn,
scrutiny of the Senate of the United States
but the Republicans had seventysix mem
bers upon whose elections and qualification
they were perfectly willing the United State
Senate, or any other impartial body, SHOULD
sit in judgment. This is not an impeach
ment Of the Senate; for in the case of Sen
ator Butler, of South Carolina, Democrat
the Senate brushed away all lega
technicalities and local complications, an
seated him because he was voted 70
by majority of a majority of the legal mem
bers of the South Carolina Legislature. Tn
situation as we'll as the duty of the Reput
licans of Indiana was plain. They shout
have pursued it with unfinching STEP regard
less of personal consequence. So far as tn
United States senatorshp is concerned, th
seventy-six members entitled to vote, IRE
spective of what revolutionary partisanship
! the Senate might have attempted, should hay
gone into joint convention according to th
law, and voted for and elected Senator
the Democrats should have concluded to hol
joint convention of their own, and coul
: have counted seventy-six or any other nun
Der Of members by such illegal proceedings
that of unseating Mcdonald, they ought I
have been permitted to do so; the seating
! their so-called Senator would have bee
another matter. The Republicans were With
: the Constitution and the laws; they shout
have been willing to remain thel
until the end. But the "comprornise
, into which they entered sets aside all th
:. rights of Acknowledgements Robertson, of
. sets the legal and righteous unseating